Deciding when end-of-life EEE should be reused

The main goal of reuse is to preserve the value of materials converted into products. When deciding whether an appliance and/or its components have a reuse value the first question to consider is what the environmental benefits of reuse are. You should consider:

  • the end market and/or demand for a reused/remanufactured appliance – both domestic and/or overseas
  • the end market and/or demand for recovered second-hand components
  • whether the appliance is safe
  • the operating pattern of the appliance
  • the energy efficiency of the appliance
  • whether the reused appliance can be warranted
  • the value of resource recovery versus extending the product’s life.

Products likely to be reused are high value, complex, durable and not closely related to lifestyle.

For certain types of electrical and electronic appliances, in particular refrigerators and freezers, reuse has questionable environmental benefits over its whole life. For example, the environmental impact of an old, energy inefficient refrigerator during use is considerably higher than if that refrigerator had been withdrawn from use and recycled.

However, studies about computer monitors (Kiakittipong, et al, 2007), have shown that disposing of an operable CRT monitor and buying a new LCD might not be beneficial as the energy gained from the difference in the energy consumption is not justified.

The difference can partly be explained in the operating pattern of different appliances. Refrigerators are mostly run continuously throughout their lives whereas computer monitors are operated periodically.

Often, the components of an appliance will have beneficial reuse even if the whole appliance doesn’t.

For many electrical and electronic products, reuse will never be suitable or only to a certain level. However, identifying and designing products that may be suitable for reuse could contribute to a more resource efficient economy and more efficient waste management.


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Last updated:15 March 2011